Look at the big picture when deciding on cable or satellite
Look at the big picture when deciding on cable or satellite
Q: I am thinking of changing from cable TV to satellite and would like to know what you think about Dish Network versus Comcast. I’ve seen a lot of advertisement spam and snail mail about Dish that promises the world, and I need the real word from someone I trust.
— Barry Werber, Pittsburgh
A: Subscription TV has become quite complicated, but I can tell you a bit about the industry in general and relate my own experiences with both vendors. I subscribe to both Comcast (cable TV and high-speed Internet) and Dish Network (satellite TV).
First, how many services do you want, and how important are they to you? Cable companies offer high-speed Internet service and, increasingly, phone service. You can bundle them together in packages to save money.
Satellite TV is pretty much a television-only service, but what great television! I have had Dish Network for eight years and could not be more pleased. For the serious audio/videophile, I think satellite is the way to go. The picture is 100 percent digital, unlike digital cable, which is a hybrid analog/digital system. Satellite picture quality is exceptional, and I can recommend Dish unhesitatingly based on my own experiences. Friends who have DirecTV tell me they are a great choice, too.